What Does the Future Hold for UK-Based MSPs?
Recent data indicates that many UK firms are leveraging managed service providers (MSPs) for a number of reasons. Here are the details.
Recent data indicates that many UK firms are leveraging managed service providers (MSPs) for a number of reasons.
A new IDG Connect study of 203 IT decision-makers from across the UK revealed 63 percent of respondents said they were using managed services to improve the experience of both internal and external customers.
Also, the study showed 75 percent of respondents noted they achieved their desired outcomes from managed services within 12 months.
“Managed services [are] now more in play than ever before,” said Bob Johnson, a principal analyst at IDG Connect, in a prepared statement. “Organizations speed the delivery of an enhanced customer experience and often see increased Internet security.”
Other study results included:
IT support services (65 percent) were the most commonly used managed services by UK firms, followed by Internet security services (60 percent), private cloud (57 percent), network services (57 percent) and data backup and archiving (55 percent).
The top criteria for choosing an MSP were quality of operations and infrastructure along with reputation as a trusted partner.
The chief information officer and/or chief technology officer are still involved in most decisions to use an MSP, but the chief financial officer and/or chief operations officer plays a part 31 percent of the time.
The future looks bright for UK-based MSPs as well, which is reflected in recent data from CompTIA.
Asked to rate what keeps them optimistic about the future of the channel, respondents said customer demand for managed services is nearly neck and neck with the opportunity that cloud presents.
In addition, the spokesperson pointed out that 11 percent of UK channel firms ranked managed services as their primary business model.
Editor’s note: The above was updated on Nov. 24 to clarify partners’ foremost reason for optimism for the channel, which is the “opportunity that cloud presents.”
What are your thoughts on the managed services market in the UK? Share your thoughts about this story in the Comments section below, via Twitter @dkobialka or email me at [email protected].
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